NEC okays schemes worth Rs 56.5 crore

SHILLONG, Mach 2: The North Eastern Council (NEC) has accorded administrative approval to schemes worth Rs 31.34 crore besides releasing Rs 25.16 crore during February this year. Council sources said the schemes cleared included the expansion programme of the Regional Dental College at Guwahati at an estimated cost Rs 4 crore. A grant of Rs 1 crore has been sanctioned to the Government of Assam to implement the scheme. The Assam Government has been given another grant of Rs 54 lakh for development of an integrated muga project and muga silk industry. The scheme has a loan component of another Rs 6 lakh. Approval was also accorded to the scheme for establishment of the Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases attached to the Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh under NEC programme at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore. An amount of Rs 1 crore has been sanctioned for implementation of the scheme. The establishment of a Diabetes Research Centre at Agartala was approved at a cost of Rs 50 lakh and Rs 25 lakh sanctioned towards implementation of the scheme. The NEC released Rs 90 lakh to the Registrar, Delhi University for construction of post-graduate boys and girls hostels. Among the beneficiaries of the council funds was the national Airport Authority of India which was given a grant of Rs 20 crore for improvement of airports in the Northeastern States. A grant of Rs 45 lakh was given to Meghalaya Government for setting up of an accident and trauma centre at Shillong Civil Hospital. The scheme has a loan component of another Rs 5 lakh. Several road and bridge schemes in different States in the region were also approved by the council under the new system of monthly clearance of schemes introduced by NEC secretary, HWT Syiem.